Cotton-seed sower or dropper.



No. 685,|77. Patented Oct. 22, I90I. W. F. SANFORD.

` coTToN SEED sowEn on nnoPPE.

(Application led June 24, 19,01.)

(No Model.)

v l m l 5 ,v A 7 l X A9 #n M6 /0 /4 c Z Il /I lI I 5 H) i ff f ff I l/I/ L9 l Il l l 15" II'UWx if" Q I described, and particularly pointed out in the UNITED l STATES PATENT v`Ormes,

WILLIAM F. SANFORD, OF DADEVILLE, ALABAMA.

COTTON-SEED SOWR OR DROPPER.

SPECIFICATION forming pertef Lettere Patent Ne. 685,177, dated oeteber 2a, 1901.

Application filed Tulle 24, 1901.

To @ZZ whom it may concern: Be it known that 1, WILLIAM F. SANFORD, a citizen of the United States,residin g at Dadeville, in the county of Tallapoosa and State of Alabama, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Cotton-Seed Sowers or Droppers and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the saine The invention relates to cotton-seed sowers or seed-droppers, and more, particularly to that class of inventions which may be converted from a cotton-seed sewer to a dropper, or vice versa, at the will of the operator.

`The object of the invention is to provide a machine of this character which shall be simple of construction, durable in use, comparatively inexpensive of production, and efficient in actionA With this and other objects in view the invention consists of certain novel features of construction, combination, and arrangement of parts, which will be hereinafter more fully appended claim.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view through the machine, illustrating the application of my invention. Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail view of the seed-tube, the valve, the tappet device pivoted to the seed-tube, and the wheel pro vided with pins'to actuate the tappet device; and Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view of the valve and tappet device removed.

In the drawings, 1 denotes the seed-hopper, and 2 the seed-tube, projecting downwardly from the bottom thereof and adapted to receive the seed discharged from the seed-opening in the bottom and discharge them upon the ground.

3 denotes a suitably-journaled wheel hav ing a crank et, which is connected to a crank 5 by a pitman 6. The crank 5 is mounted on the end of the stirrer-shaft 7, located within the hopper, for loosening and agitating the seed.

8 denotes a valve which is located in the open upper end of the seed-tube and preferf-l ably has an angular end 9, which engages the Serial No. 65,823. (No model.)

bottom of the tube. The upper end of this valve is doubled upon itself to form a sleeve 10.

11 denotes the tappet device, which consists of an angular rod having an inwardly-bent end 13, which is adapted to be engaged by pins 14 on the wheel and be actuated thereby. This rod is formed with an eye through which passes a bolt or rivet 16 to pivotally connect the rod to the side of the tube. The opposite end of this rod extends through the sleeve of the valve and is then bent downwardly and lies against the inner face of the valve and thence extends through an aperture 17 and bears with its free extremity against the angular end of the valve, thus securely bracing the valve and making a strong connection of the tappet device with the valve. The free extremity of thistappet device after it passes through a hole in the angular portion of the valve is slightly curved to form an eye which may be engaged by a pivoted 'nook 19, carried by the seed-tube, so as to hold the valve out of engagement with the seed-tube and hold the tappet device out of ythe path of movement of the pins upon the wheel.

In operation as the device is drawn along and the tappet device is located within the path of movement of the pins of the wheel the valve will be intermittently operated to discharge in predetermined quantities the seed in the seed-tube. When, however, it is desired to use this device as a-cotton-seed sower, the valve is elevated and held in that position by the hook aforesaid, so that the seed may freely pass in a continuous stream from the lower end of the seed-tube.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, the construction, operation, and advantages of the invention will be readily understood without requiring a more extended explanation.

Various changes in the form, proportion, and details of construction may be made within the scope of the invention without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages thereof.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, isf- In a machine of the character described,the

IOO

combination with the hopper and its seedtube, of an angular valve fitting the open side of the seed-tube and formed at its upper end with a sleeve, awheel provided with laterallyprojecting pins, a tappet device consisting of an angular rod, one end of which extends Within the path of movement of the pins7 and the other end of which passes through the `sleeve 01": the angular valve, thence through a hole in the sleeve and lies against the inner side of the valve, thence projects through the angular portion of the valve and is bent down against the same and forms a loop, said tappet device being formed with an eye by means of which it is pivoted to the side of x5' the seed-tube, and a hook for holding the valve elevated and the tappet device out of the path of movement of the pins on the wheel, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set zo my hand in presence of two subscribing Wit- TleSSeS.

. WILLIAM F. SANFORD. Witnesses:

Jos. H. JOHNSON,

J. J. IIARLOW. 

